Wednesday, June 4, 2008

A Special Sectional

So...

Some years ago – it’s not really important how long precisely – I found myself falling in love with sports and, well, history. I became engrossed with records. Things like who had scored the most points in NBA history (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), who had scored the most touchdowns in an NFL career (Jerry Rice – who I was able to watch during the prime of his career) and who had hit the most home runs in Major League Baseball history (Atlanta’s own Hank Aaron – more on this another time).

Then, as my young sports mind grew, I began learning (via teaching aides like media guides and record books) who had won major championships in tennis and golf, how they had won them, who had won batting titles, scoring titles, won MVP Awards, etc.

Eventually, when I saw a “unique” play or circumstance, I found my curiosity wanting to know when the last time someone else had preformed that same feat.

Fast forward to June 2, 2008 where PGA Tour player, Jason Bohn, drops a 62 on the field at the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier at Ansley Golf Club-Settindown Creek. When was the last time that someone fired a ten-under 62 on this track? Well, never.

It was neat to be there and watch him tap in that last putt (one of his few pars on the round) and walk off the green with Ollie Schniederjans, a fellow competitor who was only 14 years old. Fourteen?! Who else in Sectional Qualifying could be that young? Well, no one.

I had the opportunity to see the youngest player to advance to Sectional Qualifying of the 2008 U.S. Open play golf alongside another player, the eventual co-medalist, who would shoot a course-record 62.

Not a bad day at the office…at least, for a Monday.